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answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed attachment file name file name title title grouped question UIN question first answered question first ministerially corrected answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label attachment file name title
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1648233

	registered interest
	date	27/06/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of his Department's recent policy change in paying Universal Credit's Housing Element directly to claimants rather than to landlords and housing providers on the timeliness of rent payments.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	191435
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2023 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit is designed to mirror the world of work in order to ease the transition back into employment. The intention is that the same considerations and choices faced by people not in receipt of benefits should also face those claiming benefits. Expecting claimants to manage their own finances helps to achieve this.</p><p> </p><p>The Department understands that some claimants will require support to help them handle monthly payments and has put in place procedures to address this.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 04/07/2023 15:52:44 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1348414

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Landlord Portal will be made available to private landlords.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
	tabling member printed	Paula Barker
	uin	35955
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2021 answer text <p>There has never been a plan to expand the landlord portal for social sector landlords to the 2 million private sector landlords.</p><p> </p><p>We provide clear pathways for private landlords to raise general queries or concerns about individual cases, for example, through our Partnership Manager network.</p><p> </p><p>In May 2020 we also introduced a new online system for private landlords to enable better interaction with Universal Credit. Private landlords are now able to request a Universal Credit tenant’s rent is paid directly to them online, which helps claimants who struggle with managing their money to pay their rent. This system replaces the arrangement of completing a form and submitting it via email or post.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 22/07/2021 14:23:23 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4828 label Biography information for Paula Barker

1127546

	registered interest
	date	20/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on issuing guidance to landlords who wish to rent to tenants who receive universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
	uin	256349
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has regular dialogue with other Secretary of States in the course of normal ministerial business, which includes discussion surrounding aspects of Universal Credit.</p><p /><p>The Department maintains guidance on GOV.UK, relevant for private and social sector landlords, with information about Universal Credit. This helps landlords to understand what they can do to help their tenants prepare for: a) their move to Universal Credit and b) making payments of their housing costs (rent) direct to their landlord themselves. This can be accessed at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords</a></p><p> </p><p>The Government does not collect data on how many landlords are not able to rent to tenants who receive universal credit because of their landlord insurance policies.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 256350 question first answered 28/05/2019 15:38:33 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1327564

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the the median (a) gap between rent and the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) and (b) deduction for universal credit claims in the private rented sector where LHA does not cover the rent and which are subject to deductions for (i) universal credit advances, (ii) universal credit overpayments and (iii) tax credit overpayments in the most recent period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	6183
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2021 answer text <p>In 2020/21 a boost of almost £1 billion to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) in response to Covid-19, provided 1.5 million households in the private rented sector with around £600 more in housing support over the year. For those who require additional support with housing costs Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available.</p><p> </p><p>We carefully balance our duty to the taxpayer to recover overpayments with our support for claimants. Steps are in place to ensure deductions are manageable; we lengthened the payback period from 12 months to 24 meaning in effect someone can receive 25 payments over 24 months and also reduced the normal maximum rate of deductions in Universal Credit from 30% to 25% of a claimant’s Standard Allowance enabling claimants to take home more of the award.</p><p> </p><p>a) In February 2021, where there was a gap between rent and the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) the median was £100 per month.</p><p> </p><p>b) In February 2021, the median deduction for Universal Credit claims in the private rented sector where LHA does not cover the rent and which are subject to deductions were:</p><p>i. £61 for Universal Credit Advance deductions</p><p>ii. £52 for Universal Credit Overpayment deductions</p><p>iii. £53 for Tax Credit Overpayment Deductions</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>1) Figures are rounded to the nearest £1.</p><p>2) The Universal Credit Overpayments and Tax Credit Overpayments figures do not include deductions due to fraud.</p><p>3) Figures are only available up to February 2021 to correspond with the latest UC Official Statistics.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 28/05/2021 13:46:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1327540

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2021
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on the number of universal credit claims in the private rented sector with housing entitlement (a) where Local Housing Allowance does not cover rent and and (b) which are subject to deductions for (i) universal credit advances, (ii) universal credit overpayments and (iii) tax credit overpayments for the most recent period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	6181
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2021 answer text <p>a) The information on Local Housing Allowance relative to rent is published and available at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank"><strong>https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</strong></a>. Guidance for users is available at: <strong><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></strong></p><p> </p><p>b) In February 2021 for those claims in the private rented sector with housing entitlement there were:</p><p>i) 488,000 claims with a Universal Credit Advance Deduction</p><p>ii) 99,000 claims with a Universal Credit Overpayment Deduction</p><p>iii) 179,000 claims with a Tax Credit Overpayment Deduction</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000.</p><p>2) The Universal Credit Overpayments and Tax Credit Overpayments figures do not include deductions due to fraud.</p><p>3) Figures are only available up to February 2021 to correspond with the latest UC Official Statistics.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 27/05/2021 15:12:41 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1422038

	registered interest
	date	10/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on (a) the median gap between rent and the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) for those households where rent exceeds the LHA and (b) the median deduction for universal credit claims in the private rented sector for which LHA does not cover the rent and which are subject to deductions, whether for universal credit advances, universal credit overpayments, tax credit overpayments or for any other reason.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	122581
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2022 answer text <p>In the private rental sector, Local Housing Allowance determines the maximum financial support available for renters. In April 2020, we increased Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local rents at a cost of nearly £1 billion, providing 1.5 million claimants with around £600 more housing support in 20/21 than they would otherwise have received. Local Housing Allowance rates have been maintained at their increased levels in 2021/22 and will remain at those levels for 2022/23.</p><p> </p><p>Median differences between rent and Local Housing Allowance in different broad rental market areas reflect variation in rental markets.</p><p> </p><p>We reduced the normal maximum rate of deductions in Universal Credit from 40% to 30% to 25% of a claimant’s Standard Allowance enabling them to retain more of the award. These changes were implemented from October 2019 to April 2021. These positive measures were put in place to support claimants to manage financial difficulties. Processes are in place to ensure deductions are manageable and customers can contact DWP Debt Management if they are experiencing financial hardship to discuss a reduction in their rate of repayment, or a temporary suspension, depending on financial circumstances.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="5"><p><strong>Claims where the Local Housing Allowance is lower than rent (housing shortfall) by selected deduction types, November 2021</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Deduction type</p></td><td><p>Number of claims</p></td><td><p>% of all claims</p></td><td><p>Median housing shortfall</p></td><td><p>Median deduction</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Advance or UC Overpayment or Tax Credit Overpayment</p></td><td><p>324,000</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td><td><p>£100</p></td><td><p>£58</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><em>of which</em></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Advance only</p></td><td><p>165,000</p></td><td><p>3%</p></td><td><p>£100</p></td><td><p>£42</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tax Credit Overpayment only</p></td><td><p>55,000</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>£100</p></td><td><p>£61</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>UC Overpayment only</p></td><td><p>38,000</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>£125</p></td><td><p>£59</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Any combination of the above</p></td><td><p>67,000</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>£100</p></td><td><p>£80</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Any deduction type or advance repayment</p></td><td><p>362,000</p></td><td><p>8%</p></td><td><p>£100</p></td><td><p>£65</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p>1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 1,000. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole percent.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p>2) The Universal Credit Overpayments and Tax Credit Overpayments figures do not include deductions due to fraud.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p>3) Only claims with private rent and housing entitlement have been included when identifying claims where LHA did not cover rent.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3"><p>4) 'Any combination of the above' includes claims with Advance and Tax Credit Overpayments</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p>or Advance and UC Overpayments or Tax Credit Overpayments and UC overpayments or all three deduction types.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p>5) Figures are provisional and are subject to retrospective change as later data becomes available.</p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><p>6) Latest figures provided for November 2021 in line with published statistics on Universal Credit Households Statistics. 7) Median deduction refers to the specified deduction type</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>8) Figures are for Great Britain.</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="2"><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5"><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 122580 122582 question first answered 01/03/2022 16:23:27 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1216811

	registered interest
	date	23/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of private renters who would be ineligible for universal credit on the basis of (a) their status as a student, (b) their savings and (c) their immigration status.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	63498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 26/06/2020 12:33:12 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1648861

	registered interest
	date	29/06/2023
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department holds on the number of households in the private rented sector in receipt of universal credit with the housing element in payment; how many and what proportion of those households have rents that exceed the local housing allowance (LHA); and what the median average gap is between the rent and the LHA for those households where rent exceeds the LHA for each local authority area in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales for the most recent period for which data are available.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	191728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2023 answer text <p>The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. Data on local LHA rates and averages can be found in the attachments provided.</p><p> </p><p>In 2020 we spent almost £1 billion increasing LHA rates. These rates were aligned to the 30th percentile of market rents in Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMA) across the country, therefore in those areas with higher rent costs this is reflected in higher LHA rates for that BRMA. In 2022/23, the Government is projected to spend around £30 billion to support renters. This is approximately 1.4% of GDP, more than any other OECD country, with the next highest being 0.9% of GDP.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the legislation increasing LHA rates to 30<sup>th</sup> percentile in April 2020 can be found <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/371/regulation/4" target="_blank">here.</a> Information on the legislation maintaining LHA rates at their current rates for 2023/24 can be found <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/6/contents/made" target="_blank">here.</a></p><p> </p><p>For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.6 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that rents are increasing. However, the challenging fiscal environment means that difficult decisions have been necessary to ensure support is targeted effectively. Overall, the Government is providing total support of over £94 billion over 2022/23 and 2023/24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of living.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies attachment 1 file name Attachment.xlsx title Attachment 2 file name Attachment 2.xlsx title Attachment 2 question first answered 17/07/2023 16:04:45 question first ministerially corrected 21/07/2023 13:52:30 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 88042 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies attachment 1 file name Attachment.xlsx title Attachment
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1416974

	registered interest
	date	26/01/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data her Department holds on the number of households in the private rented sector in receipt of universal credit with the housing element in payment; how many and what proportion of those households have rents which exceed the local housing allowance (LHA); and what the median average gap is for those households between the rent and the LHA, for each broad rental market area in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales for the most recent period for which data are available.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	112479
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2022 answer text <p>The requested information is in the following attachment.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2020 we increased Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local rents, costing nearly £1 billion and providing 1.5 million claimants with around £600 more housing support in 2020/21 than they would otherwise have received. Local Housing Allowance rates have been maintained at their increased levels in 2021/22 and will remain at those levels for 2022/23.</p><p> </p><p>Median differences between rent and Local Housing Allowance in different broad rental market areas, reflect variation in rental markets.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is providing £12 billion of support to ease cost of living pressures, with help targeted at working families, low-income households and the most vulnerable. A further</p><p>£9 billion has been announced to protect against the impact of rising global energy prices.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 112480 112481 112482 112483 question first answered 08/02/2022 17:43:24 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley attachment 1 file name PQs 112483 112480 112481 112479 112482 table.xlsx title Attachment
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1422024

	registered interest
	date	10/02/2022
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit: Private Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data her Department holds on the number of households in the private rented sector in receipt of universal credit with the housing element in payment; how many and what proportion of those households have rents which exceed the local housing allowance (LHA); and what the median average gap is between the rent and the LHA for those households where rent exceeds the LHA.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	122576
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is in the attachment.</p><p> </p><p>The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum financial support available for renters in the private rented sector who are in receipt of housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit, but are not intended to meet all rents in all areas.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2020, we increased LHA rates to the 30th percentile of local rents, costing nearly £1 billion and providing 1.5 million claimants with around £600 more housing support in 2020/21 than they would otherwise have received.</p><p> </p><p>LHA rates have been maintained at their increased levels in 2021/22 and will remain at those levels for 2022/23 rather than reverting back to previous rates which were less generous.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require additional support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. Since 2011 we have provided almost over £1.5 billion in DHPs to local authorities for households who need additional support with their housing costs.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 122578 question first answered 25/02/2022 12:59:11 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley attachment 1 file name Attachment .xlsx title PQs 122576 and 122578
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck